Independent secondaries In Herts.

@BookwormButNoTime
The few nights option is different from our day. I guess they need to fill the beds! However it’s losing the brighter girls to other schools judging by results.

@TizerorFizz I would disagree with your number of boarders comment. A huge number board in my daughters year, ranging from full boarders to those just doing a few nights. It is most definitely not a full boarding school but has a significant number of girls as weekly boarders. Boarders are not a minority and it’s definitely not mainly day girls.

@Milly717 Both Aldenham and Q have a similar set up with boarding so have very much a boarding school feel even if you are a day pupil. The main reason girls are choosing Q over Aldenham is that the latter is very boy heavy. The percentage split between girls and boys is large - I want to say a third girls, two thirds boys - but this was a few years ago when we were looking. It may have changed, particularly with both St Columba’s and St Margaret’s going coed too. I would definitely ask the question.

@Milly717
Queenswood is also great for drama. Both my DDs went there.

The only thing I have noticed is that their exam results are not what they were. I think the brighter girls are going elsewhere. When DD1 was there, it had quite a few high flyers. Not sure there’s strength in depth now. It seems to attract the ones who need nurturing now it’s very much a day school before 6th form. So it’s definitely changed. However it’s still the best school. You can even take media studies and photography!

I also know kids at Aldenham. Also a fab school if you want to go co-ed.

Queenswood without a doubt. My daughter's best friend from Primary is there. It's absolutely fabulous for sports and dance and any extra curriculars. It's also the no.1 school for women's tennis. And nurturing rather than pushy.

I work at Queenswood if you want to know about it.

I’d say abbots hill or queenswood

We will be moving back just before the start of the academic year, so we won’t need boarding, although my daughter is very keen! The boarding facilities at Q looked lovely, I could definitely see my daughter wanting to stay!

We are looking at one other school that is further from where we live so would need weekly boarding, but Q is close enough to use the transport each day.

Thank you for all of your help, it is very much appreciated in what is proving to be a difficult decision process.

Are you looking for a full boarding place if you are overseas?

Hello, thank you for your reply and also your DM. I appreciate your insights. Definitely not looking for discount, I’m just not sure what the scholarship means on a daily basis as the documents don’t really say that much. I do like the school, I think because we are currently living overseas I feel more anxious about accepting an offer, irrational as that may be.

@TizerorFizz The Q of today is very different to the one from when your daughters were there (reading your posts I don’t think you were there since Mrs Cameron has joined?). Over 50% of girls come from state school. Of course there is money there, but the same can surely be said of any private school? They are certainly not a school courting the monied for extra funding. All girls (and parents) are equal.

I have also read posts from “Zodlebud” and I don’t think she says it’s not good enough for her academic daughter - she’s just looking for other options as right now Q is the only school they like and surely they need to apply to more than one school?

@RuralHertsMum I would actually be really impressed by a school that asked us what we wanted to see. It shows that they want to show you how they can meet the specific needs and interests of YOUR daughter. What’s the point in showing off the flashy new sports centre and amazing theatre if they are of no interest and you’d rather see the science labs? It also shows they are strong all round and not just showing you the best bits.

I have a daughter there at the moment. I have already sent you a DM about scholarships and my experience of the school. I can tell you that the academic scholars in my DDs year turned down places at STAHS, Habs girls, NLCS and DAO to go there. Music scholar was on Grade 8 in Year 6. Drama scholars have worked professionally in the West End and in feature films. Sports scholars are on England pathways. Scholarships are not won easily and the girls in receipt of them are given further enrichment in their specialism, as well as support for any supporting coaching etc outside school. If you are looking for significant fee discounts or to be put on a pedestal then you won’t get it there. Scholars are respected by their peers for their talents, but are humble, thankful and give back. You would have received information as to what the scholarship adds to your DDs academic life with your offer letter.

Did being a scholar give your DD a different experience in any way?

No. Scholarships there don’t have a monetary value. She just had to go through hoops to get it. I won’t bore you with the issues after that bug I do know the current Principal has promoted a different ethos.

They used to have fund raising events and some of these are invitation only. So big money talked. The wealthy were actively courted!

Can I ask, does being a scholar actually mean anything of value? Will it be a positive thing for our daughter or is it just a label?

This is very useful insight, thank you! We want a school that will challenge our maths/science focused child and won’t stifle creativity. Our daughter likes gymnastics but doesn’t play team sports, although she’s happy to join in this isn’t something we desperately need in a school. I want a school with genuine interest in helpful students progress and encouraging them to challenge themselves. Re your final comment, we aren’t monied and wouldn’t want money to be important to her.

When DD1 left it was pretty academic at the top of any cohort. 2 Principals back there was a big effort to up GCSE and A level grades. They did. Lots of girls went to RG universities and, in my DD1s cohort, have done very well since.

However the next head was more interested in a finishing school atmosphere. Out went the notion of supporting bright girls to be leaders of the future and in came the idea that you were most valued for parental money and having little to say. Some strong girls have come out of that system but in DD2’s year, well over 50% of girls left for other 6th forms. (60 down to 26). So they have had to rebuild. Exam results haven’t recovered yet. League table position definitely hasn’t. Even dedicated Q supporters (@Zodlebud) think their brighter DD should go somewhere more academic. This is turning the clock back to pre 2000 and it’s a huge shame.

DD was a 6th form scholar. The school really could do with attracting more high flying girls. However if people won’t send bright DDs there, what can they do? When my DD1 went, it had very similar results as our local girls grammar. It doesn’t now.

I would interrogate results. Does your DD have to be educated with everyone else being the same? I didn’t know how bright DD was when she went snd she came from a state school. I just knew her 11 plus Bucks result.

We didn’t choose it based on facilities. We chose based on size, personal attention for pupils, lots of clubs, boarding ethos and, at the time, an outstanding head snd deputy. Plus their school exchange programme which both my DDs did. Other parents love the drama and sport. It’s getting back to what it should be. I think the current Principal is liked. However the altar of money is very worshipped.

We are currently considering accepting a place at Queenswood for our daughter but weren’t as impressed with the school following the tour (it was very much ‘what do you want to see’ rather than ‘let me show you how great our school is) The facilities are great but some of the students definitely seemed less engaged in the lessons than in the other school we looked at.
My daughter is bright and has been offered an academic scholarship with her place at Q, but I’m just not sure if Q is more about the PR than the substance. Any advice welcome!

That would depend on how good the baseline tests are. Music, Art and drama are difficult to assess. Some pupils will have done no MFLs or very basic introductory lessons. However as DDs went to Q I do respect the school but sometimes don’t accept PR without data attached and a lot more info!

You need to look at Value Added for grades. not just results overall. If a school only takes in pupils that score 80%+ on entrance tests etc, the Pupil is always going to get high grades, and the School therefore will get high grades. Theres no added value. Your child may not be supported/pushed etc

Queenswood can get your child (on average) an entire grade higher than expected against their cohort. Look at this article for example

"More than half of all students who sat exams in a wide range of subjects, including Mathematics, French, Spanish, Music, Art and Drama, achieved at least two grades higher than predicted by baseline tests."

@boysmuminherts would love to PM you some time if that’s ok with you.

Sorry to hijack your thread OP

@Snoopsnoggysnog
Not decided yet!!!! Probably Haileybury.